With 2012's first earnings season well under way, let's go over some of the items that will help shape the week that lies ahead: Here's why you should be watching one major mall owner, two tech giants, three homebuilders and a couple of old media behemoths.

Only one of the 25 largest U.S. newspapers increased its circulation in the last six months: The Wall Street Journal. USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times were all down significantly.

Employees at Gannett's flagship newspaper USA Today must be insanely dedicated: Why else would its publisher feel the need to explain to them exactly what it means to be forced to take a week off. But that's just what Dave Hunke decided his already-depressed workforce needed to hear.